Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 La Vuelta a España

Photo: REUTERS / Miguel Vidal

Spain is an awesome country. It has amazing scenery, culture, cities and chicas… oh, the chicas. Its football competition features the world’s best players, their national team are the reigning World Cup holders, and they boast world champions in tennis, Moto GP, Superbikes and Formula 1. They regularly kick the collective asses of France and Italy, and a lot of other European countries when it comes to bicycle racing, although most of their recent heroes have somewhat of a cloud hanging over them. So why does their Grand Tour hardly raise an eyebrow when compared to the other two big tours, and why the fuck do they still allow cowards on horses armed with poison darts to taunt and kill a beast as noble as el toro for ‘entertainment’?

I can’t really answer the last one, but the fact that La Vuelta is treated like the road racing equivalent of a red-headed stepchild is about as fair as the Corrida itself. To me, and to many pros, it is seen as a tour of redemption. Those who, for one reason or another, either due to bad luck, bad management or bad form suffered a less-than-stellar Tour de France, now get a chance to make something of their season and add a ‘major’ to their palmares. Riders like Jan Ullrich, who in 1999 took the amarillo jersey after sitting out Le Tour with a dicky knee. 2008 saw Contador make amends after his Astana team was prevented from starting le Grande Boucle under a doping cloud. In fact, La Vuelta and doping have more than a passing aquaintance, with Valverde winning while under a pending hearing in 2009, and of course little Robbie Heras getting stripped of his 05 title after an EPO positive. Last year wasn’t without its own scandal, with a positive for 2nd place ‘sensation’ Ezequiel Mosquera dragging La Vuelta’s name through the red dust again. It could well be the dirtiest tour of them all, a race that itself seeks atonement as much as those who race it.

This year’s edition has the same sense of redemption written all over it, with some of Le Tour’s unfortunates having a crack at it. There’s Wiggo, who was in the self-proclaimed form of his life before snapping his twig-like collarbone early on. Can he show us what he had promised on the roads of France in the Dauphine, or will the Spanish heat and steep, long climbs be too much for him? How about Jurgen Van den Broeck, also looking great before his own clavicle calamity ended his July. Invisible Denis will also be there, his Geox team considered not good enough for the Tour, out to show that he’s still a force and add to his two Spanish victories. Other battered old warhorses who will never give up easily are Andreas Klöden and Carlos Sastre, but father time may have finally taken its toll on this duo.

In reality, it’ll probably come down to the younger brigade made up of last year’s winner Vinnie Nibali, J-Rod, Scarponi, and Anton. It could be a blow-out, or one of the best races of the year. We may even get another drug controversy to keep up the status quo of years gone by. Whatever happens is anybody’s guess, which is why this race is one of the hardest to pick for VSP contenders, and one that might even be as exciting, vibrant and colourful as the country it traverses for three hot weeks.

So pour yourself a glass of Sangria, give the start list a long or glancing look, and post your picks before 5am Pacific time (yeah, I don’t know when the hell that is either…) and if you have any doubts, confusion or questions, head to the VSP page for clarification, rules and/or rebuttals. No horsing around, no bullshit.

Buena suerte!

 

Brett

Don't blame me

View Comments

  • @Marcus

    @frankSurely the Piti Principle applies to a sub in of Cobo on the second rest day? FFS!
    @NateLooking right you!

    Amen!!! (Although I suck so badly on this VSP that it doesn't matter at this point!)

  • @Marcus
    Howdy, mate! Not sure the Piti principle applies on top of the rest day change penalties, but I suppose that's up to the (disinterested) higher powers. The course has been selective and this competition is coming down to me vs. Antipodes Mooiste, i.e., yourself and NZed's most eminent company lawyer. I'll need any edge I can find.

    @Buck Rogers
    Harsh! You can't stick up for a fellow 'murican?

  • Can't help but feel a little bad for Froome. Had he been able to ride for himself earlier he'd most likely be in red today and on his way to the top step of the podium on Sunday. Still a great accomplishment (assuming he stays in 2nd), but opportunities like that to win a grand tour can be a once in a lifetime deal... here's hoping he gets more chances in the future.

  • @LA Dave
    indeed - time for Sky to get Wiggo on the front of a full black and blue Skytrain lead out whilst Cobo is having his lunch and blow the spaniard out the back door (mind you, after the horlicks on the TTT, no guarantee they would maintain it!)

  • Home late, switched on Eurosport to settle down to some Cider a Vuelta

    Latest news, Serena Willams leading 7/5, 2 games to love in the second set.....WTF!!!!

  • @Nate
    Sorry about that Nate. I meant that I seconded his first comment, althoguh if you were wrapped up in that, then i guess I accused you by association.

    I'm all for no swaps under any circumstances, but what the hell do I know?!?!? :)

  • @Dr C

    Home late, switched on Eurosport to settle down to some Cider a Vuelta
    Latest news, Serena Willams leading 7/5, 2 games to love in the second set.....WTF!!!!

    I'm suprised she survived the mountain stages tbh. Too fat to climb!! I heard she was hanging on to the cars...looks like she'll get to Madrid though now.

    In other news Wiggins to face Nadal in the next round...stay tuned.

  • Kinda sucks when your top pick is in a 4 man break and the peloton doesn't give a shit since he's so far down on GC.

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